Thrush, Oral
Signs and Symptoms
- Slightly raised, whitish patches in the mouth or throat
- Patches may be tender or sore and may bleed slightly if brushed with a toothbrush
Description
The Candida fungus occurs naturally in the mouth in small amounts. When the level of this fungus increases, you develop a problem called thrush. The overgrowth is most likely to happen when your resistance is lowered by illness or when you’ve been taking corticosteroids, immunosup pressive drugs, or antibiotics-all of which can upset your mouth’s natural Candida balance. People with immune-suppressive illnesses, such as AIDS, have especially high rates of oral thrush.
Conventional Medical Treatment
Your dentist or physician can diagnose thrush with a physical exam. Treatment involves 7 to 10 days of an oral antifungal medication.
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Nutrition and Supplementation
Since thrush is a kind of fungus, it is important to eat plain yogurt containing live cultures, which will replace friendly bacteria. Your diet should be fruit-free, sugar-free, and yeast-free. To prevent the Candida fungus from thriving, eat foods low in carbohydrates, which basically means no sugar. Avoid aged cheeses, alcohol, baked goods, chocolate, dried fruits(The Benefits of Dried Fruit Baskets), fermented foods, all grains containing gluten (wheat, oats, barley, rye), ham, honey, nut butters, pickles, potat?es, raw mushrooms, soy sauce, sprouts, and vmegar. Candlda thrive on fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, pineapples, and limes, so eliminate them from your diet at the onset of an infection and for up to one month after healing. Add them back to your diet, but only in moderation. Eat lots of vegetables, fish, and gluten-free grains, such as brown rice and millet. Drink plenty of pure water.
Nutritionists suggest the following daily supplements:
Most Important
- flaxseed oil (as directed on label)-heals and prevents the fungus from destroying cells
- a prodophilus formula (as directed on label)fights infection
- quercetin (500 mg 2 times daily)-speeds healing
- calcium (1500 mg)-often deficient in people with thrush
- magnesium (750 mg)-balances with calcium
- vitamin C (1000 mg 3 times daily)-protects the body tissues from damage by toxins released from Candida
- chewable coenzyme (as directed)
- glutathione mouth spray (as directed)
Also Recommended
- biotin (50 mg 3 times daily)-maintains healthy skin
- vitamin B12 (2000 mcg 3 times daily)-needed for metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
(Take supplements until your symptoms subside. If symptoms persist, seek the advice of your health care provider.)
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture Chinese medical practitioners have successfully treated thrush and other candidias is disorders by using acupuncture. Typically, the practitioner focuses on points that improve immunity to reduce recurrences, along with points related to the mouth, throat, and larynx to ease immediate symptoms.
Acupressure Although acupressure cannot cure oral thrush, it may help tone the immune system to prevent future episodes. Points that may be manipulated during this treatment are Conception Vessel 6 and 12, Stomach 36, and Spleen 6 and 9.
Chinese Herbal Therapy Herbs that may be recommended to treat yeast infections include garlic, licorice, ginger, cinnamon, ginseng, and aloe vera-all of which have antifungal properties. However, the best treatment is to build and strengthen the whole system.
